"No, that's all right," she said. "It's all history now." Linda sipped her coffee and felt herself slipping back into her dark mood.

"I don't know. Maybe it's me. It takes me so long to get turned on."

"You called it, honey," Margie said. "That's the way it is with women. We're all pretty much the same. That's why it's the only way I make it anymore. "

"You mean… "

"You got it, honey. I'm a les. I just make it with the girls. Saves a lot of complications that way."

"I had no idea. I mean, I never_"

"Don't give it another thought, honey. I used to be a closet les. Now I don't care who knows." She looked at Linda more closely. "Y'know, honey, you should try it sometime."

Linda felt revulsion at the idea.

"No… I don't think so, Margie. I just want it with a man."

"Don't knock it if you haven't tried it. At least I wouldn't leave you hot and horny at the end."

"You mean you really… "

"That's it, honey. When I'm finished, you're finished." Linda felt her face go hot, embarrassed. "Well, I don't think so."

"What've you got to lose?" Margie asked.

Linda thought for a moment. She didn't have anything to lose. Forcing a little smile, she said, "Okay, Margie, I'll try it with you."

Margie stood and took her hand" pulling Linda to her feet. She led her to the bedroom.

"Now you just lie back here, honey, and let me do the work to start," Margie said, gently pushing Linda back on the bed.

Linda lay back, wondering how to start. Margie untied her own robe and shrugged out of the sleeves, stark naked. She kicked her slippers off and crawled up on the bed beside her.

Margie ran her hands up Linda's legs and played with the sash of her robe. She slowly untied it and parted the two sides, spreading the robe to its full length. She slipped it back off her shoulders and then helped her sit up while she peeled the robe all the way off. While Linda still sat up, Margie took her nightie by the hem and pulled it up over her arms and tossed it aside.